Maui Favorites
Favorite Restaurants
North Shore / Upcountry
Milagros Food Co. at 3 Baldwin Ave, Paia, HI 96779 (808) 579-8755 www.milagrosfoodcompany.com. Some of the tastiest margaritas on the island, paired with extra crispy tortilla chips, salsa and home made guacamole are fresh and fantastic.
Café Des Amis at 42 Baldwin Avenue, Paia, HI 96779 (808) 579-6323 www.cdamaui.com. The best crepes on the island! Try the savory Mediterranean style crepe followed up with a sweet decadent dessert style crepe with whipped topping.
Hali’imaile General Store at 900 Hali’imaile Road, Makawao, HI 96768 (808) 572-2666 www.hgsmaui.com. Bev Gannon, one of the 12 original Hawaii Regional Cuisine chefs, is still going strong at her foodie haven in the pineapple fields. You’ll dine at tables set on old wood floors under high ceilings. The food, a blend of eclectic American with ethnic touches, bridges Hawaii with Gannon’s Texas roots and puts an innovative spin on Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Examples include sashimi napoleon and the house salad – island greens with mandarin oranges, onions, toasted walnuts, and blue-cheese crumble. Always fun for your upcountry drive.
Marlow at 30 Kupaoa Street, Makawao HI 96768 (808) 868-3366 www.restaurantmarlow.com Marlow, a wood fired kitchen by Chef Jeff Scheer, in Upcountry. Known for their elegant brick oven pizzas and fun cocktails, Maui locals love this place for a nice evening out.
Mahalo Ale Works is Maui’s newest brewery boasting delicious brew’s and brat’s, brought to you by Upcountry Sausage Co. Be sure to check out the weekly entertainment lineup and plan on attending Trivia Tuesday’s if you can. Located in Kulamalu shopping center, this is a great pit stop to quench your thirst on your way down from Haleakala Crater either after sunrise, or sunset. Enjoy a beverage to go with one of their many beers available in 32 oz Crowler cans.
Satori Sushi Truck is one of Maui’s most hidden gems. Satori offers Farm to Table sushi and has a stellar outdoor area for dining surrounded by an outdoor fire-pit and often times live music. They sell Maui Kombucha on tap and also have a BYOB policy for beverages. If you are lusting for dessert, you can enjoy a Coconut Glen ice cream float as a post sushi delight. Highly recommend dining at this locally owned and operated sushi truck – just be sure to check the hours and give them a follow on instagram for daily specials and entertainment.
Maui Cookie Lady is a must try that offers one of the islands most indulgent delights which you can enjoy on island, and also purchase some to take home and share with family and friends. In the heart of Makawao town, the Maui Cookie Lady storefront is open 7 days a week and is sure to leave your tastebuds wanting more. Da Half Baked is a crowd favorite.
Kuau Store is the most favored stop on the way to Hana to grab any last minute snacks and local delights for the road, or if you need to pack the cooler for a beach day. Try the spicy poke from here and you will see why it’s a favorite of ours.
Wailea / Kihei
Matteo’s Osteria at 161 Wailea Ike Pl, A107, Wailea, HI 96753 (808) 891-8466 www.matteosmaui.com. Just below the new Residence Inn Maui, 808 891-Vino) Italian food and wine bar, online ordering, kids menu, happy hour, great pizza.
Misa Phat Sushi at Azeka Shopping Center, 1279 S Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 891-6476 www.misophat.com. Great Sushi, sit down or take out, open until 8:30pm Sun-Fri.
Maui Pie at 1280 South Kihei Road, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 298-0473 www.mauipie.com infor@mauipie.com. A little slice of heaven…right here on Maui.
Havens Food Truck www.havensmaui.com. A new favorite place to eat with locations in both Kihei and Kahului. Locally owned and operated this place adds flavor to Hawaiian style cooking with everything from smash burgers, noodles, and poke bowls. Grab a last minute meal before you head home, as the Kahului location is across from the Costco gas station in the Plate Lunch Marketplace. Kihei location can be found in the Shell gas station parking lot at at 30 Manao Kala St., Ste. 102, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 868-2600.
Pita Paradise at 34 Wailea Gateway Center, A108, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 879-7177 www.pitaparadisehawaii.com. Freshest fish in town! Owner fisherman Johnny catches fresh fish exclusively for Pita Paradise. This is our place when we are in Wailea with the kids. Great food and great value! All the kids order Kalua pork pita sandwiches. Happy hour is a must from 3pm-5pm daily with a great happy hour food menu and great drink specials.
Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman – Wailea, Maui at 10 Wailea Gateway Place, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 891-2322 Another favorite eating place for our family. Known for their famous “Lillikoi Foam” that tops off their dangerously good Mai Tai that will pair great with pork tacos or one of their decadent salads or pizzas. Happy hour is daily from 3:30pm-5:00pm. Live music schedule can be found here. www.monkeypodkitchen.com. Reservations recommended, bar seating is usually plentiful.
Lahaina / Kapalua
*** Please note that due to the Wildfire and mass destruction in Lahaina these restaurants may not be operating or operating with limited hours and staffing.
Travel to & from Lahaina is currently discouraged unless absolutely necessary. ***
Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop at 820 Olowalu Village Road, Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 662-3600 www.leodas.com. Leoda’s kitchen and pie shop has casual family style dining in a comfortable plantation era atmosphere on the way to or fro Lahaina. The menu features an assortment of hand-crafted sandwiches, salads, baked goodies and the amazing sweet and savory pies [Banana cream pie or Haupia is my favorite]. The seared ahi salad is everyone’s go-to and the fried salad is a must have too. This is a destination that shouldn’t be missed.
Old Lahaina Luau at 1251 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 667-1998. It’s not exactly a restaurant, but it’s certainly an unforgettable dining experience. Maui’s best luau serves top-quality food that’s as much Pacific Rim as authentically Hawaiian, served from an open-air thatched structure. It’s one-third entertainment, one-third good food, and one-third ambience. All the kids love the show, and adults can enjoy a fine dining experience without interruptions from the keiki.
Moku Roots 335 Keawe St. #211 Lahaina, HI 96761 • (808) 214-5106 www.mokuroots.com. This VEGAN, ZERO waste, Farm to table, plant based restaurant that has been boasted not only for their no waste footprint and environmental consciousness, but for their impeccable display of artfully crafted vegan and vegetarian dishes that are absolutely divine and delightful. All this deliciousness, plus they also serve incredibly creative cocktails. Try the “Mermaid Margarita”, “Guac on the rocks” or my personal favorite, the “Vegan Coco Coolada”. Happy Hour is daily from 3pm-5pm and includes discount on all food and cocktails.
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar has 2 locations. My personal favoirte is located at 600 Office Rd., Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 669-6286 but they Kihei at Kukui Mall, 1819 South Kihei Rd, Bldg. A, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 868-0780 www.sanseihawaii.com. Relentlessly popular, Sansei is known for their hand rolls, udon & ramen, and the signature Asian rock-shrimp cake with the oh-so-complex lime chile butter and cilantro pesto. Enjoy at 50% off on the food between 5-6pm on Sunday’s and Monday’s. Get there early as it always fills up – the line may look intimidating but it goes fast. If you are looking for a late night option, Sansei offers 50% off bar food in the later hours.
Recommended Beaches
Wailea Beach This is the best gold-sand, crescent-shaped beach on Maui’s sunbaked southwestern coast. One of five beaches within Wailea Resort, Wailea is big, wide, and protected on both sides by black-lava points. It serves as the premier frontage for the Four Seasons Wailea, Maui’s most elegant hotel, and the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, its most outrageous. From the beach, the view out to sea is magnificent, framed by neighboring Kahoolawe and Lanai and the tiny crescent of Molokini. The clear waters tumble to shore in waves just the right size for gentle riding, with or without a boogie board. If you’re visiting between Dec-April during peak whale season, this beach in particular provides exceptionally good whale spotting with its fairly flat sandy beach that gently slopes down to the ocean.
Makena “Big” Beach & “Little” Beach is a well known beach favored by locals and visitors alike where you can really let your wild side out, should you choose to by joining a Sunday night drum circle, or monthly full moon party on the “Little Beach” side of the larger Makena “Big” Beach. Umbrellas are recommended to bring to this beach since shade is limited and sun is plentiful. To get to Little Beach you will endure a small hike to a secluded portion of the beach which offers some privacy for those partaking in the nude approach. Plan to enjoy a day here as this beach offers all the best of Maui.
Airport Beach might just be your new favorite if you get to enjoy this piece of paradise on the west side of the island. BBQ grills, pavilions, prime waters for snorkeling and swimming, public well-kept restrooms, and a grassy lawn area that leads to a nice beach path around the resort area will leave you wanting nothing more. Pack up the family and enjoy your day on the west side.
Family and Kid Friendly
We recommend the following beaches which are commonly enjoyed by families and young children due to shallow waters, sandy bottoms, and wave protection from outside reefs.
Baby Beach in Lahaina aka “Puunoa Beach” is shallow and known to be great for little kids with the offshore reef protection, making it a great place to be if you have little ones. Access for this beach is through a residential neighborhood , however parking is plentiful nearby on the street. There are no public showers here, so you may want to plan accordingly if you have dinner plans after or a long drive back to Wailea.
Baby Beach, Sprecklesville Area is a perfect swimming place on the North Shore if you are looking for something closer to Wailea. This beach has an outer reef that creates small pools for children and adults to enjoy, and is surrounded by a wooded area and backed by sand dunes which make it private and offer protection from the strong Maui winds.
Mama’s Fish House Beach is a small and quaint beach with limited parking and sometimes offers a close up viewing of sea turtles [Honu]. Enjoy a morning swim or snorkel here followed by a mellow afternoon before making your way to happy hour for a cocktail and a snack at Mama’s to complete the day.
Makena Beach & Little Beach is a locals favorite beach, with shore break waves for ocean sports, a long and wide sand beach with plenty of space for everyone and nice hiking paths and trails. Walk over the hump to little beach, where clothing is optional, and there are full moon parties for your wild side.
Surf Locations
PLEASE NOTE: Many of the West Maui surf spots are not accessible due to the recent Wildfires in Lahaina. * Travel to Lahaina in general is discouraged at this time and travel to West Maui should be considered only if it is essential.
Ho‘okipa [North Shore] Beach Park is on the North Shore near Paia and offers a picturesque view surrounded with white sandy beaches, a rocky shoreline, and tide pools depending on the tide. This beach park offers public pavilions to enjoy a casual ocean side lunch or soak in the sunset ambiance once the wind dies down. Known for safely viewing turtles, this North Shore beach park may be the best opportunity to closely see sunbathing turtles all day long. While you are here, you will see why this spot is also known for world class Kite surfing. For the experienced surfers, “Pavilions” at the beach park offers a fun wave that welcomes both long or short boarders and is one of the only surf breaks on the North Shore with a lifeguard tower and is staffed daily.
Honolua Bay [West Maui, but far up North] is a rocky bay known for snorkeling in summer & surfing in winter. Honolua Bay should only be surfed by experienced surfers that are comfortable hiking down to the surf break and enduring a long paddle out that may require duck diving. This is a remote surf spot heavily utilized by local surfers in the winter swell months. Snorkeling Honolua bay is magical and can be accessed via foot path through some forested trails, or enjoyed best while enjoying a catamaran tour out to the reef which is plentiful with fish and live reef’s as part of the Mokulēʻia Marine Life Conservation District,
Launiupoko Beach Park [West Maui] right along Honoapiilani Hwy on your way into Lahaina is another great place for families with young children. This park is a 6.7-acre shoreline site featuring a natural pool enclosed by a lava rock wall, plus picnic tables. Known to be favored by locals, Launiupoko offers gentle but fun longboard waves, a kiddy pool type lagoon, BBQ areas, shade, and plenty of parking.
Lahaina Breakwall [West Maui] Located at 505 Front Street is sure to provide fun waves year round! This surf spot is ideal for beginners and long-boarders alike. Breakwall, although sometimes crowded is sure to provide waves year round that will have you smiling and hanging ten the entire time you’re out there. We recommend doing a small group, or private surf lesson with Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy located in the shops at 505, suite 127 and 128.
Other Activities
Wailea Wine at the Wailea Town Center, 161 Ike Place, Wailea, HI 96753 (808) 879-0555 www.waileawine.com. They have great friendly service and are fairly priced. Be advised, they are closed on Sundays and Mondays so be sure to stock up before then!
Best Place for Make-up Cos Bar Wailea at the Shops at Wailea (808) 891-9448 www.cosbar.com
Most beautiful walk down “Oprah’s Road” or Thompson Rd in Kula.
We love the “Kai Kanani” (808) 879-7218 www.kaikanani.com this vessel “beach-load” so you will be walking through the surf and up on to this enormous 65-foot catamaran.
ROAM Maui – ROAM Maui is a member-only private air experience built for Maui homeowners with families that travel frequently and their guests, connecting Maui to the West Coast cities of Seattle, San Jose, and Los Angeles. All flights are flown on VIP-configured 737-700s with spacious, 44 all-first-class seats and the largest pitch between seats (over four feet) of any airliner serving Hawaii. The jet is staffed by an eight-person flight crew.Our partnership with Maui Humane Society ensures the Direct Release of pets who travel with their owners, so your four-legged family members never miss a moment with their Ohana. To learn more about the many benefits ROAM Maui has to offer the affluent Maui family. Call us at 800-563-ROAM , Email : Memberships@roam-maui.com , Or join us on our invitation-only website roam-maui.com
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at Grandma’s Coffee House at 9232 Kula Hwy, Kula, HI 96790 (808) 878-2140 www.grandmascoffee.com. This is as cozy as it sounds with a scenic deck, relaxed vibe & organic coffee made from local, house-roasted beans. Lock your car and start walking up the hill towards the hospital and take your first right, a little over a mile long you’ll walk Thompson Road where butterflies and horses roam eloquently. The views are stunning and the post breakfast walk is the real treat.
For kids under 10 years old, we love to recommend Atlantis Submarines (800) 381-0237 www.atlantisadventures.com/maui for a unique and special viewing of Maui’s ship wrecks and live reef’s.
Delicious Poke and more fine wines can be found at Tamura’s Fine Wines & Liquors Kihei with locations in Lahaina, Kahului and Kihei, (808) 873-8000 www.tamuraswine.com is known to have the freshest poke in town.
Our favorite snorkeling Tour to Molokini can be booked at www.mauisnorkeling.com. If you don’t have time to do a tour, there are tons of local places that are very beautiful just off shore. If you have time, consider a trip to snorkel/scuba dive off the back side of Lanai.
Warren and Annabelle’s is home of Maui’s only formal magic show hosting an array of well known magicians. See the lineup here at www.WarrenAndAnnabelles.com. 900 Front St #A202 Lahaina, HI, 96761, (808) 667-6244. Book early as this is usually sold out. There’s a kid’s show as well, but the real entertainment is at night.
Best Whale Watching “The Pacific Whale Foundation” (808) 249-8811 www.pacificwhale.org. They have multiple locations on Maui, they really do it right.
You’re in for a treat if you get to dine on these grounds at O’o farms for either lunch, or a coffee and brunch tour with “O’O Farms” (808 667-4341) www.oofarm.com. A truly unique island experience offering views and a dining expereince. Breathtaking venue with views of two coastlines. Gourmet lunch prepared in your presence with fresh natural products.
Best Breakfast “Ka’ana Kitchen” at the Hyatt Andaz Hotel (808) 573-1234 www.hyatt.com/dinng has beautiful tables of farm fresh foods, hand-pressed juices and a coffee beverage mixologist.
Best Brewery “Mahalo Aleworks” 30 Kupaoa Street, Ste. 101, Makawao, HI 96768 www.mahaloaleworks.com and “Maui Brewing Co.” at 605 Lipoa Pkwy, Kihei, HI 96753 (808) 201-2337 www.mauibrewingco.com
Best Farmers Market www.upcountryfarmersmarket.com open Saturday’s only from 7:00 am until 11:00 am. The best food is what’s grown locally! Come celebrate fresh, locally grown food and community at our Upcountry Farmer’s Market located at the Kula Malu Town Center Hwy. 37 near Long’s Drugs, Pukalani/Kula. Just follow the signs!
Oko’a Organic Farms. Freshly grown produce delivered directly to your doorstep! They deliver twice a week right now, every Tuesday and Friday morning, www.okoafarms.com.
Baby Equipment Rentals. Nokaoi Baby Rentals, www.nokaoibabyrentals.com, (808) 446-6729.
Let us know your favorite spots and things to do, we’ll add them on and keep everyone informed.
Have fun!
Team BiosExplore Maui, Lanai and Molokini with Sail Trilogy (808) 874-5649 www.sailtrilogy.com A family-owned business that offers a variety of tours for you and your family.